As UC Merced begins its 12th academic year, 18 new ladder-rank professors join the faculty across all three schools. Among the new academics are the campus's first "cluster hires" — four assistant professors who conduct research within a specific interdisciplinary theme — in the area of computational science and data analytics.

Thanks to a nearly $1 million contract with the California Energy Commission, Professor Gerardo Diaz is developing solar-powered heating technology that could reduce the demand for natural gas in businesses and homes.